dr. ir. Dimitri Diavatopoulos

Over Dimitri Diavatopoulos

Dimitri Diavatopoulos is Assistant Professor of Experimental and Translational Vaccinology at the Laboratory of Medical Immunology, affiliated with the Radboud Community for Infectious Diseases (RCI) at Radboud university medical center. His research focuses on accelerating vaccine development for respiratory tract infections by bridging the gap between fundamental and clinical science. Central to this is the use of controlled human infection models (CHIMs), which his group has established in Nijmegen for the major bacterial pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae and Bordetella pertussis. These models enable detailed study of immunological memory and the identification of biomarkers that inform product licensure and public health policy.

His group applies advanced technologies, including single-cell RNA sequencing and mucosal immune profiling, to investigate immune memory and vaccine responses in both healthy individuals and vulnerable populations, such as kidney and COPD patients. Through strategic collaborations with public and private partners, his work contributes to clinical innovation and sustainable healthcare.

Dr. Diavatopoulos was the coordinator of the PERISCOPE consortium, a public–private partnership aimed at accelerating the development and licensure of next-generation pertussis vaccines. He is also the Radboudumc liaison for InFECT-NL, a national initiative aimed at accelerating the clinical development of vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases, with a specific focus on the use of CHIMs. His international collaborations include partnerships with RIVM, UKHSA, Oxford University, MRC The Gambia and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, contributing to global vaccination strategies.

His activities span research, education, and clinical translation, aligning with Radboudumc’s strategic themes. He teaches across academic programs at Radboudumc and partner institutions, and actively contributes to public outreach and policy discussions to strengthen vaccine confidence and pandemic preparedness.